BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Overview

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are collectively known as “we,” “us” or the “Company.” The Company's activities are conducted principally through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, El Pollo Loco, Inc. (“EPL”), which develops, franchises, licenses, and operates quick-service restaurants under the name El Pollo Loco® and operates under one operating segment. At September 27, 2017, the Company operated 208 and franchised 265 El Pollo Loco restaurants.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full year. The condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes do not include all information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual reports. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2016.

The Company uses a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Wednesday of the calendar year. In a 52-week fiscal year, each quarter includes 13 weeks of operations; in a 53-week fiscal year, the first, second and third quarters each include 13 weeks of operations and the fourth quarter includes 14 weeks of operations. Every six or seven years, a 53-week fiscal year occurs. Fiscal 2016 and 2017 are both 52-week years, ending on December 28, 2016 and December 27, 2017, respectively. Revenues, expenses, and other financial and operational figures may be elevated in a 53-week year.

Holdings has no material assets or operations. Holdings and Holdings’ direct subsidiary, EPL Intermediate, Inc. (“Intermediate”), guarantee EPL’s 2014 Revolver (see Note 4) on a full and unconditional basis, and Intermediate has no subsidiaries other than EPL. EPL is a separate and distinct legal entity and has no obligation to make funds available to Intermediate. EPL and Intermediate may pay dividends to Intermediate and to Holdings, respectively.

Under the 2014 Revolver, Holdings may not make certain payments such as cash dividends, except that it may, inter alia, (i) pay up to $1.0 million per year to repurchase or redeem qualified equity interests of Holdings held by past or present officers, directors, or employees (or their estates) of the Company upon death, disability, or termination of employment, (ii) pay under its income tax receivable agreement (the “TRA”), and, (iii) so long as no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing, (a) make non-cash repurchases of equity interests in connection with the exercise of stock options by directors and officers, provided that those equity interests represent a portion of the consideration of the exercise price of those stock options, (b) pay up to $2.5 million per year pursuant to stock option plans, employment agreements, or incentive plans, (c) make up to $5.0 million in other restricted payments per year, and (d) make other restricted payments, provided that such payments would not cause, in each case, on a pro forma basis, (x) its lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio to equal or exceed 4.25 times and (y) its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio to be less than 1.75 times.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and revenue and expenses during the period reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant estimates include estimates for impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property and equipment, insurance reserves, lease termination liabilities, closed-store reserves, stock-based compensation, income tax receivable agreement liability, and income tax valuation allowances.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly-liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

The Company’s restricted cash represented cash collateral to one commercial bank for Company credit cards. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2017, the cash collateral was returned by the bank, and the Company reclassified such amounts to cash and cash equivalents.

Liquidity

The Company’s principal liquidity requirements are to service its debt and to meet capital expenditure needs. At September 27, 2017, the Company’s total debt (including capital lease liabilities) was $85.3 million. The Company’s ability to make payments on its indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures depends on available cash and on its ability to generate adequate cash flows in the future, which, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, and other factors that are beyond the Company’s control. Based on current operations, the Company believes that its cash flow from operations, available cash of $7.1 million at September 27, 2017, and available borrowings under the 2014 Revolver (which availability was approximately $106.9 million at September 27, 2017) will be adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs for the next 12 months.

(Loss) Gain on Recovery of Insurance Proceeds

In November 2015, one of the Company’s restaurants incurred damage resulting from a fire. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2016, the Company incurred costs directly related to the fire of less than $0.1 million, disposed of an additional $0.1 million in assets, and recognized gains of $0.7 million, related to the reimbursement of property and equipment, and $0.5 million, related to the reimbursement of lost profits. The reimbursement of lost profits is included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements of operations, for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2016, as a reduction of company restaurant expenses. The Company received from the insurance company cash of $1.0 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2016, and $0.4 million on October 5, 2016, net of the insurance deductible. The $0.4 million is included in accounts and other receivables in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 28, 2016. The restaurant was reopened for business on March 14, 2016.

Recovery of Securities Class Action Legal Expense

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2017, the Company received insurance proceeds of $0.6 million and $1.1 million, respectively, related to the reimbursement of certain legal expenses paid in prior years for the defense of securities lawsuits. The Company subsequently received an additional $0.5 million of insurance reimbursements on October 12, 2017. See Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, Legal Matters.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, which provides clarity, reduces diversity in practice, and reduces cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718 Compensation—Stock Compensation, regarding a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. Specifically, an entity is to account for the effects of a modification, unless all of the following are satisfied: (1) the fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value, if such an alternative measurement method is used) of the modified award is the same as the fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value, if such an alternative measurement method is used) of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; (2) the vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; and (3) the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or as a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. ASU 2017-09 is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, simplifying the manner in which an entity is required to test for goodwill impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-04 is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, clarifying the definition of a business. ASU 2017-01 clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. ASU 2017-01 is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of ASU 2017-01 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, "Restricted Cash." ASU 2016-18 addresses the diversity in practice that exists regarding the classification and the presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statements of cash flows under Topic 230, Statements of Cash Flow, and other Topics. The amendments in ASU No. 2016-18 require that amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and the end-of-period total amounts set forth on the statements of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, "Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments." ASU 2016-15 addresses how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statements of cash flows under Topic 230, Statements of Cash Flow, and other Topics. ASU 2016-15 is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases.” The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Although early adoption is permitted, the Company will adopt these provisions in the first quarter of 2019. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company has $307.5 million of operating lease obligations as of September 27, 2017 and upon adoption of this standard will record a ROU asset and lease liability equal to the present value of these leases, which will have a material impact on the consolidated balance sheet. However, the recognition of lease expense in the consolidated statement of operations is not expected to change from the current methodology.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, "Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities." The pronouncement requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes, requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset, and eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost. These changes become effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09)”, which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing GAAP.

The revised revenue standard is effective for public entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures).

In addition, the FASB has issued the following Technical Corrections, Practical Expedients and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: ASU 2017-13 in September 2017, ASU No. 2016-20, in December 2016, ASU No. 2016-12, in May 2016, and ASU No. 2016-10, in April 2016. All amendments are effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods, and early application is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016.

The Company generates a substantial amount of its revenues from company-operated restaurants. This revenue stream is not expected to be impacted by the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09, or any of the subsequent related ASU’s. The Company has completed its initial analysis of the impact of the standard on franchise revenue. The revenue recognition for franchise fees that are based on future sales is not impacted. However, revenue recognition for franchise and development fees that are not related to subsequent sales will be impacted. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have a material impact to future results of operations. In addition, the Company has determined to take a modified retrospective approach of transition and will recognize an adjustment to retained earnings, related to the cumulative effect of adopting ASU 2014-09 at the date of adoption. The Company is in the process of analyzing the disclosure requirements and the impact on advertising fees, and plans to complete its analysis by the end of fiscal 2017.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent to September 27, 2017, the Company received an additional $0.5 million of insurance proceeds related to the reimbursement of certain legal expenses paid in prior years for the defense of securities lawsuits. In addition one of our franchisees closed one restaurant in California.

The Company evaluated subsequent events that have occurred after September 27, 2017, and determined that there were no other events or transactions occurring during this reporting period that require recognition or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Concentration of Risk

Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally-insured limits. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these balances.

The Company had one supplier for which amounts due totaled 17.4% of the Company's accounts payable at September 27, 2017. As of December 28, 2016, the Company had one supplier for which amounts due totaled 16% of the Company’s accounts payable. Purchases from the Company’s largest supplier totaled 27% of total expenses for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2017, and 33% of total expenses for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2016. Purchases from the Company’s largest supplier totaled 30% of total expenses for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2017, and 33% of total expenses for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2016, of the Company’s purchases. Company-operated and franchised restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area generated, in the aggregate, approximately 73% and 75% of total revenue for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2017 and September 28, 2016, respectively.

Goodwill and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets

The Company’s indefinite lived intangible assets consist of trademarks. Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of net identified assets acquired in business combinations accounted for under the purchase method. The Company does not amortize its goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets. Goodwill resulted from historical acquisitions.

Upon a sale of a restaurant, the Company evaluates whether there is a decrement of goodwill. The amount of goodwill included in the cost basis of the asset sold is determined based on the relative fair value of the portion of the reporting unit disposed of compared to the fair value of the reporting unit retained.

The Company performs annual impairment tests for goodwill during the fourth fiscal quarter of each fiscal year, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise.

The Company reviews goodwill for impairment utilizing either a qualitative assessment or a two-step process. If the Company decides that it is appropriate to perform a qualitative assessment and concludes that the fair value of a reporting unit more likely than not exceeds its carrying value, no further evaluation is necessary. If the Company performs the two-step process, the first step of the goodwill impairment test is used to identify potential impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the goodwill to a determination of the implied value of the goodwill. If the carrying amount of goodwill is greater than the implied value, an impairment charge is recognized for the difference.

The Company performs annual impairment tests for indefinite lived intangible assets during the fourth fiscal quarter of each fiscal year, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. An impairment test consists of either a qualitative assessment or a comparison of the fair value of an intangible asset with its carrying amount. The excess of the carrying amount of an intangible asset over its fair value is its impairment loss.

The assumptions used in the estimate of fair value are generally consistent with the past performance of the Company’s reporting segment and are also consistent with the projections and assumptions that are used in current operating plans. These assumptions are subject to change as a result of changing economic and competitive conditions.

The Company did not identify any indicators of potential impairment of its goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2017 or September 28, 2016, and therefore did not record any impairment during the respective periods.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:


•	Level 1: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.


•	Level 2: Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs or significant value drivers are observable.


•	Level 3: Unobservable inputs used when little or no market data is available.

As of September 27, 2017 and December 28, 2016, the Company had no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. In other words, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment).

The following non-financial instruments were measured at fair value, on a nonrecurring basis, as of and for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2017 and September 28, 2016 (in thousands), reflecting certain property and equipment assets for which an impairment loss was recognized during the corresponding period, as discussed immediately below under "Impairment of Long-Lived Assets":



			Fair Value Measurements at September 27, 2017 Using						Impairment Loss
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2017		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2017
Property and equipment owned, net	$	280	$	—	$	—	$	280	$	15,035	15,480



			Fair Value Measurements at September 28, 2016 Using						Impairment Loss
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2016		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2016
Property and equipment owned, net	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	2,508	2,508

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of certain assets may not be recoverable. The Company considers a triggering event to have occurred related to a specific restaurant if the restaurant’s cash flows for the last twelve months are less than a minimum threshold or if consistent levels of undiscounted cash flows for the remaining lease period are less than the carrying value of the restaurant’s assets. If the Company concludes that the carrying value of certain assets will not be recovered based on expected undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment write-down is recorded to reduce the assets to their estimated fair value. The fair value is measured on a nonrecurring basis using unobservable (Level 3) inputs. There is uncertainty in the projected undiscounted future cash flows used in the Company's impairment review analysis. If actual performance does not achieve the projections, the Company may recognize impairment charges in future periods, and such charges could be material. Based on the results of the analysis, during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2017, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $15.0 million, primarily related to the non-recoverable assets of 10 stores in Texas and California. In addition, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2017 the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $15.5 million, primarily related to the non-recoverable assets of 11 stores, in Texas and California. For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2016, the Company recorded a $2.5 million non-cash impairment charge, primarily related to non-recoverable assets of two restaurants in Arizona and Texas. The Company continues to monitor the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets of several restaurants on an ongoing basis. In particular, most of the Company’s (and its franchisees’) restaurants in Texas have been open since the beginning of 2015, and many since the beginning of 2016. Accordingly, given the difficulty in projecting results for newer restaurants in newer markets, the Company intends to continue to closely monitor the performance of its Texas portfolio. Based on the most recent results in the Texas market, if management's plans to grow sales and improve profitability are not successful, future significant impairment to the Company’s assets may occur as a result of the performance of these restaurants and the related future cash flow assumptions over the remaining lease term.

Closed-Store Reserves

When the Company makes the determination to close a restaurant, it reviews the future minimum lease payments and related ancillary costs from the date of the restaurant closure to the end of the remaining lease term and records a lease charge for the lease liabilities to be incurred, net of any estimated sublease recoveries. There is uncertainty in the estimates of future lease costs and sublease recoveries. In addition an impairment charge is recognized for any remaining carrying value of certain restaurant assets. During the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2017, the Company closed three restaurants in Texas, recognizing a closed-store reserve of $1.0 million. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2017, the Company closed four restaurants in Texas and one in Arizona, recognizing a closed-store reserve of $1.8 million. For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2016, the Company recognized $0.1 million of expense related to adjustments to closed-store reserves recognized in prior periods.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes, income taxes payable and deferred income taxes is determined using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. On a periodic basis, the Company assesses the probability that its net deferred tax assets, if any, will be recovered. If, after evaluating all of the positive and negative evidence, a conclusion is made that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be recovered, a valuation allowance is provided by charging to tax expense to reserve the portion of deferred tax assets which are not expected to be realized. In the first quarter of fiscal 2017 the Company implemented ASU 2015-17, "Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes," resulting in the classification of all deferred tax assets as non-current. As the Company implemented this ASU retrospectively, $21.5 million of deferred tax assets previously classified as current in fiscal year 2016 are now classified as noncurrent liabilities within the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

The Company reviews its filing positions for all open tax years in all U.S. federal and state jurisdictions where the Company is required to file.

When there are uncertainties related to potential income tax benefits, in order to qualify for recognition, the position the Company takes has to have at least a “more likely than not” chance of being sustained (based on the position’s technical merits) upon challenge by the respective authorities. The term “more likely than not” means a likelihood of more than 50 percent. Otherwise, the Company may not recognize any of the potential tax benefit associated with the position. The Company recognizes a benefit for a tax position that meets the “more likely than not” criterion at the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon its effective resolution. Unrecognized tax benefits involve management’s judgment regarding the likelihood of the benefit being sustained. The final resolution of uncertain tax positions could result in adjustments to recorded amounts and may affect the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company had no accrual for interest or penalties at September 27, 2017 or at December 28, 2016, and did not recognize interest or penalties during the thirteen or thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2017 or September 28, 2016, since there were no material unrecognized tax benefits. Management believes no material changes to the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will occur within the next twelve months.

On July 30, 2014, the Company entered into the TRA. The TRA calls for the Company to pay to its pre-IPO stockholders 85% of the savings in cash that the Company realizes in its taxes as a result of utilizing its net operating losses and other tax attributes attributable to preceding periods. For the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2017 we recorded income tax receivable agreement income of less than $0.1 million and for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2016 we recorded income tax receivable agreement expense of $0.2 million, and for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2017 and September 28, 2016, we recorded income tax receivable agreement expense of $0.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively, related to the amortization of interest expense related to our total expected TRA payments and changes in estimates for actual tax returns filed.